Park Yong-sung faces questioning

By Lee Kyung-min

Park Yong-sung

The prosecution plans to issue a summons for former Chung-Ang University Foundation Chairman Park Yong-sung next week as part of its widening investigation into alleged corrupt ties between the university and Doosan Group.

According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Park will be questioned over suspicions he secured lucrative deals for the university with the help of former presidential secretary for education Park Bum-hoon, who also worked as the university’s president.

The former secretary was detained early Friday after the Seoul Central District Court issued a detention warrant, accusing him of embezzlement, breach of fiduciary duty, bribery, abuse of power and violation of the Private School Law.

“We have not set a date yet, but we decided to call in Park Yong-sung soon,” a prosecutor said.

Like Park Bum-hoon, Park Yong-sung could be locked up following the planned interrogation.

The two allegedly collaborated to gain government approval for the university’s expansion projects, including the integration of the university’s two campuses.

Prosecutors said they had secured e-mails between the two Parks.

In an e-mail, Park Yong-sung allegedly asked Park Bum-hoon to “take good care” of the university’s projects in 2012, when the latter was working at Cheong Wa Dae.

In response, Park Bum-hoon said that “matters involving the university would be taken care of,” the prosecution said.

Chung-Ang was able to secure two big deals in 2012 ― the merger of the university’s two campuses and Chung-Ang's acquisition of the Red Cross College of Nursing.

Prosecutors also secured testimony from education ministry officials who worked under Park Bum-hoon at the time of the merger.

The officials reportedly said the then presidential secretary, Park Bum-hoon, unduly ordered that the deal be carried out, “with the full support in any way requested,” according to the prosecution.

Also in question is an additional amount of 100 million won ($98,000) in payment in 2011 when the then university president, Park Bum-hoon, left for Cheong Wa Dae and the presidential secretary position.

Dismissing the university’s claim that the added amount was to show “a token of gratitude and respect,” the prosecution suspects the university gave it as a bribe.

Meanwhile, Park Yong-sung forfeited his chairmanship of the university foundation and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction following uproar about his years-long verbal abuse of university professors and faculty members.